4 ways to run your business online

Running your business online is a fantastic way to save both time and money. Instead of having to cover the costs of running an establishment or renting out a work space, in this digital age, it is possible to manage your business digitally. If you create the right kind of website, you could even be able to run your business from home. This will be the perfect solution for if you are a new business that is hoping to grow. Instead of stacking up huge debts in the first few months, you will be able to establish your brand at a minimal cost. You may eventually decide to open a physical store, but this is not an essential step to take. Many successful businesses function entirely online. Whether it is clothing stores such as ASOS, or an online marketplace such as eBay, online companies are going from strength to strength. It is vital that you and your business are not left behind! Below, there are four important steps to take in order to run your business online.

Update your website regularly

One of the benefits of visiting a physical store is stock rotation. Most stores have a manager who will ensure that displays are kept up to date. They will also make sure that if a product isn’t selling well, it is removed from the shelves as soon as possible. Conversely, if a product is a success, the manager will regularly replenish the stock and will be on the lookout for similar items. This is one of the best ways to secure loyal customers. Online, it is even more important to keep your website up to date. While a customer might visit a physical store from time to time, they could visit your website at least once a day. Your website will be accessible at the click of a button, so it is important that your customers aren’t disappointed by the fact that the website stays the same. Instead, you should ensure that your website is constantly changing.

Make sure that any special offers you have available are clearly featured as soon as someone clicks on your page. You should also keep all of your website’s photographs and information updated. Your business will seem out of touch if it is constantly reusing the same images and text. Why not consider seasonal updates? For instance, if it is Christmas, why not add some tasteful decorations to your page? Or, if it’s a celebration for your business, why not make this clear on your website? You could also set up a company blog page on your site, this can include all of your latest news and will help to keep your audience engaged.

Consider your special offers

It is important that when a client visits your website, they are tempted to make a purchase instead of just taking a look around. If you provide special offers and advertise them efficiently, this will help you to entice your customers. However, it is important to consider exactly what special offers you make available carefully. For instance, many websites offer free delivery for all of their purchases. This is an extremely tempting offer for potential customers and will help your business to compete with physical stores that don’t require a delivery fee. However, if you sell any items that are less than the delivery charge, you could actually risk losing your business money. Not only this, but even if a product cost more than the delivery, you will constantly be cheating yourself out of a maximum profit. One solution could be found in setting a limit for this offer. Your website could make it clear that free delivery is only available for clients who spend a certain amount of money. As long as you offer better rates than your competitors, this will still attract clients. It could even make you money, as customers may find themselves adding products to their baskets in order to qualify for the offer. This is a great example of why you should carefully think through all of your offers. There’s nothing wrong with experimenting, but once you find a strategy that works, try to stick to it. You will find that regular offers, at specific points in the year, will bring back loyal customers who look forward to your deals.

Quick view option

One of the easiest ways to drive customers away from your website is by making it difficult to navigate. If a website becomes too complicated, you will find that people start to turn towards physical stores with real people who will help them with their purchases. Make sure that your website is as clear as possible. Your pages shouldn’t be overcrowded, and all of your online stock should be categorized. If your business operates in a competitive area of the market, one way of standing out from the rest is by utilizing the quick view option. This tool allows your customers to take a closer look at your products without changing the page. They can find out if alternatives are available and check for measurements and materials. With the quick view options, clients can even add a product straight to their basket. This will be especially useful for customers with slow broadband. Instead of getting fed up with pages that take forever to load, they will be able to simplify their online shopping trip. It is small details like this that will keep people coming back to your site!

Sell your products online effectively

An attractive website that is easy to navigate, will help to draw people into your website. It may even lead them to make a purchase. However, if the order is not carried out correctly, and the delivery is not executed as expected, it is unlikely that anyone will want to return to your site. Why not consider running your online business with the help of apps? You can use Shopify as an ecommerce solution that will help you to personalize your store, arrange your products, sell your products, and track your orders. That’s not all! If you like to get the most out of your technology, you can integrate Shopify with NetSuite to streamline back-office operations. This will allow you to maintain timely order fulfilment. It will also help you to stay on top of whether the stock is available or not. You can provide real-time statuses on orders, and can offer your clients cancellations and refunds. Instead of having to carry out all of these operations manually, you can rely on a system that allows the different elements of your business to communicate with one another. This will save you time and money. It will also help you to raise the standards of your online business.